M A N T E X N E W S L E T T E R Number 43 - March 2001 FREE stuff for writers --- ISSN 1470-1863 --- 0----- 'XML in a Nutshell' Extensible Markup Language allows you to define your own tags in web pages. So, you can haveor or tags. This is going to make information more 'portable' and adaptable for different purposes. The coding is similar to HTML tags, but it's much more rigorous. This is all explained in Eliotte Harold's new book from O'Reilly. Actually, their 'nutshell' books aren't small at all. This is another comprehensive and very thorough reference manual. http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/harold.htm 0----- FREE word-processor RoughDraft is a FREE word processor. Although suitable for general use, it has features specifically designed for writers of novels, short stories, articles, poetry, plays and screenplays. - Some of its special features include: - Up to 100 files open at the same time. - Spellchecking (in British or American English) - Custom dictionary so you can add your own words - Automatic insertion of user-defined words - Four extra clipboards for inserting - Special modes for screenplay writers and playwrights which make formatting easy. - Shortcut keys for just about everything. - Comprehensive help system. - It's free! http://www.rsalsbury.co.uk/ 0----- University VCs put the squeeze on writers I received an alarming letter last week from the Authors' Licencing and Collecting Society. They are the people who collect fees from organisations which photocopy work instead of buying the original. They then distribute the fees back to the authors. ALCS report that UK university Vice Chancellors are claiming a 90% - that's right, ninety percent - *reduction* in the fees given back to authors. Universities are very heavy photocopiers, and you might not be surprised to hear that the VCs themselves got a 6.5% pay rise last year - which is twice what teachers were awarded. If you write materials which could be photocopied, it's worth contacting ALCS. They might even have some money waiting for you. The first time I did it, there was several hundred pounds in my kitty! http://www.alcs.co.uk 0----- Getting started in journalism Sean McManus has a website for aspiring writers and journalists. It includes a section about getting started in magazine and newspaper journalism. He put it there because he gets lots of questions on the subject. there are lots of other tips too. You might need sunglasses to view his pages - but it's worth a look. http://www.sean.co.uk 0----- Internet Resources for Writers Jane Dorner has just issued an update of her excellent bibliography of Net resources for authors, journalists, academic writers - and even poets. The March additions are on e-publishing. http://www.internetwriter.co.uk Her bibliography is nicely annotated, and although it's available on line, I still use the printed version, which comes as the most useful section of her book 'The Internet - A Writer's Guide'. Full review and details at - http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/dorner-2.htm 0----- Biographies - available FREE Get biographies of famous people by email. Send an e-mail to HALiBOT's free service at bio@halibot.com. In the subject field put the name of the person, and you'll get a potted biography by return e-mail! You could also try the FREE service at http://www.biography.com [Source - E-Search E-Zines] 0----- Guide to Grammar and Writing Charles Darling has a terrific site with explanations, tips, and guidance notes. It also has interactive exercises, so you can test your knowledge. I didn't agree with one of his examples on the comma - but punctuation can eventually be personal preference (so it's said). http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm 0----- Coming soon! * Wan2Learn? - teaching with texting * The Design of Everyday Things * Online Search Strategies (c) Copyright 2001, MANTEX All Rights Reserved PO Box 100 Tel +44 0161 432 5811 Manchester Fax +44 0161 443 2766 M20 6GZ UK www.mantex.co.uk If you like this newsletter, PLEASE FORWARD IT to friends and colleagues. New subscribers should register at the following address -- http://www.mantex.co.uk/newslet.htm FREE BACK ISSUES featuring news items, reviews, and product details are available at - http://www.mantex.co.uk/news/archive.htm Please retain the copyright and subscription information. It may be posted, in its entirety or partially, to newsgroups or mailing lists, so long as the copyright and subscription information remains. If you have any requests, observations, or items you would like to be included in our next issues, just mail us at -- news@mantex.co.uk You receive the MANTEX newsletter because you subscribed to it. If you wish to unsubscribe, go to -- http://www.mantex.co.uk/newslet.htm News-43-March-2001 ISSN 1470-1863 The British Library